NFL roundup: Schurmur expected to be Eagles' offensive coordinator

The Sports Xchange

The SportsXchangeJanuary 21, 2013

All the head coaching vacancies have been filled, but NFL teams are still in the process of hiring key assistant coaches, with several more moves reportedly made Sunday. The Philadelphia Eagles are expected to hire Pat Shurmur to serve as offensive coordinator for new head coach Chip Kelly, according to ESPN.com. Shurmur, 47, was fired after two seasons as the Cleveland Browns' head coach, but he would bring valued NFL experience to Kelly's staff. John Garrett is leaving the Dallas Cowboys to become wide receivers coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, according to an NFL.com report. Garrett, the brother of Dallas head coach Jason Garrett, currently is the Cowboys' tight ends coach and passing-game coordinator. Kevin Spencer will be hired as the San Diego Chargers' special teams coach, according to ESPN. That would make Spencer the third former member of the Arizona Cardinals' 2012 coaching staff to be hired by new Chargers head coach Mike McCoy.

--Kelly had no NFL experience until the Eagles hired him last week, but Philadelphia made him one of the NFL's highest-paid coaches by signing him to a five-year contract worth $32.5 million, ESPN reported. The deal pays Kelly $6.5 million a year, and the appealing offer apparently was a factor in Kelly's decision to join the Eagles after previously saying he would remain Oregon's head coach.

--The San Francisco 49ers don't expect Michael Crabtree to be charged due to an incident that resulted in an investigation of an alleged sexual assault last week. The wide receiver was in the starting lineup for Sunday's NFC Championship Game at Atlanta. San Francisco police said Crabtree, with an attorney present, has cooperated with the investigation, the Sacramento Bee reported. Crabtree also promised to be available for further questioning. The alleged incident took place at a San Francisco hotel early the morning of Jan. 13, several hours after the 49ers' 45-31 victory over the Green Bay Packers.

--Quarterback Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons have begun talks about a contract extension, Fox Sports reported. According to the report, that deal will take on the look of a "mega-contract." The 2013 season will be the final year of Ryan's six-year deal worth $66 million. He is scheduled to be paid $10 million next season, but, according to the report, the Falcons may want to discard the final year of that deal and reward Ryan with a new contract.

--The "Rooney Rule" is workable -- with some tweaks -- according to its namesake. Pittsburgh Steelers chairman Dan Rooney believes the fact no minorities were hired for the eight head coaching vacancies or seven general manager-level jobs this year was an anomaly. While Rooney doesn't see a problem, there were reports that the NFL might be considering an expansion of the Rooney Rule from head-coaching and general manager openings to include coordinator openings.

--Washington Redskins wide receiver Josh Morgan underwent surgery on his right leg Friday, and sent out a picture through Instagram of himself in a hospital bed with a cast on the leg. Morgan had 48 receptions for 510 yards and two touchdowns during the regular season, his first with the Redskins after signing a two-year, $11.5 million deal. It wasn't immediately known what the surgery was for, although the fifth-year veteran missed 11 games in 2011 after breaking his right leg and tearing ligaments.